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Royal Enfield gets World Origin recognition for their 125th anniversary

Pure motorcycling lands an honored plaque to go along with the 2026 Royal Enfield Classic 650 125th Anniversary Edition

By Mark D McKee Published June 24, 2026 4:00 PM

Brick, Architecture, Building — Royal Enfield

What do Penicillin, a tank, Monty Python, the color mauve, and a Royal Enfield have in common? Go ahead, take a sec, because I couldn’t answer this question when I was asked. They are all accredited sites from World Origin Site. What does that mean? It means that something unique, groundbreaking, and world-changing happened, and we want to remember it. The locations included in the list commemorate some of the world’s most significant cultural events. And at the end of the day, these events are cemented in our collective cultural consciousness. The newest inclusion is Royal Enfield, who recieved thier plaque at the site of their first factory, where they unveiled their 2026 Royal Enfield Classic 650 125th Anniversary Edition.

It’s just a wall in Redditch today, but 125-years-ago, somebody did something that changed the world, and we’re here to mark the exact spot. – Martin Wilkie, Founder, World Origin Site

125 years of pure motorcycling

The ceremony took place at the site of the company’s first factory in Redditch, England. Lining Enfield Road were five generations of models that display the unique heritage of the oldest continuous production motorcycle company. One of the bikes present was the new special edition 125th Anniversary, featuring a hypershift paint application, a fusion of heritage and celebration.

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“My heart lies with two wheels,” said Richard Hammond when attending the unveiling. The motoring enthusiast and TV journalist and presenter, known for his role on Top Gear, was in attendance with a slew of ot Royal Enfield faithful and community pillars. “Motorbikes are my private passion, and as a local boy by birth, growing up nearby to this area, it’s a great pleasure to mark this World Origin Site celebrating Royal Enfield; a longstanding, proud brand that rings with familiarity around the world and continues to honour the workers that laid the foundations here in Redditch.”

The 2026 Royal Enfield Classic 650 125th Anniversary Classic is due for sale in August, the perfect time for you to start your autumn road trip around the English countryside.

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